Moving Young to Help Span?

This drives me absolutely insane. Here's a tidbit from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, just what's specific to the Twins:

"The Twins would like to trade outfielder Delmon Young for a left-side infielder, which they feel would have the added benefit of opening up a spot in the lineup for outfielder Denard Span in left."

Sure, it makes perfect sense. But where is he getting the information? Nobody knows, because he doesn't list his sources. It could be information from an inside source, but if this were the case this exact same information would be surfacing elsewhere...and no my knowledge, it hasn't.

Still...it's an educated statement. I'm looking forward to seeing how accurate it is.

7 months ago Jesse Comment 51 comments 0 recs |

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BP

I wonder if they even talk to clubs or scouts. If they do, you would think they would use the perfunctory unnamed source “speaking on condition of anonymity.” Without it, it’s just another rumor, albeit a rumor based on sound speculation.

One question, though: I would think Span has earned a spot as the everyday lead-off hitter. If they keep young and Cuddyer, the odd man out would seem to be Gomez. So it’s oddly phrased to say they are trying to move Young to make room for Span. Better phrasing: They need to move Young to make room for Span, Gomez and Cuddyer in the same outfield.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 1, 2008 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's pretty much how I see it, too.

Based on what we know, what we’ve seen, Gomez would be the odd man out…especially with Kubel as the everyday DH. I think they could work out some sort of rotation, but clearly for consistency that’s a hard thing to do. And as far as the phrasing goes, the blurb doesn’t mention the two Twins outfielders with the most suspect seasons—Cuddles and Gomez.

I don’t really know what to think about it.

by Jesse on Dec 1, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If I have those four players, I bench Young.

Well, I’d actually try to trade him, but Gomez’s awesome defensively value makes him a better option than Young.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Dec 1, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gomez

Gomez’s defense is definitely great, but I don’t think it is enough to overcome his awful offense. Even without trying to determine whether he is more valuable then Young or Cuddyer, it seems that he is the only one of the four that has anything to gain at AAA. It would be a waste to use his last year of minimum wage time when he is still average overall. Let him get better at AAA, this year, and save his service time for when he has learn to hit.

Young players are only valuable if you maximize their contribution relative to their pay grade. This is done by holding players back until they need major league competition to improve.

by snolls on Dec 2, 2008 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Last year?

I suppose he was on the MLB disabled list for much of his first year. Still not sure if he would be a super 2 at the end of this year.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 2, 2008 8:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Considering that there are always injuries...

…I think the Twins will be very happy with the five players for four positions. We can beat this to death, but I don’t see the Twins moving Young unless they get equal to better value in return. Personally, I see them moving Cuddyer before Young, although Michael appears to be one of the veteran leaders of the clubhouse. Will be interesting this winter…my guts are telling me we will see all five in spring training with the TWins.

by roger13 on Dec 1, 2008 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ken Rosenthal mentioned this about Young in an article.

by ahope on Dec 1, 2008 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do you have a link for that?

I’d like to see what he had to say.

by Jesse on Dec 1, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8845170/Braves-join-list-of-suitors-for-righty-Burnett?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49.

Towards the bottom on the first page.

by ahope on Dec 1, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Direct quote

Twins left fielder Delmon Young is “very, very much out there,” according to one rival GM. Young, a right-handed hitter, would make particular sense for the Phillies, but the Twins will need to be careful in any trade discussions. Getting poor value for Young would only compound their mistake in acquiring him as part of a six-player trade in which they sent shortstop Jason Bartlett and right-hander Matt Garza to the Rays …

That much has been clearly published by a number of outlets since the end of the season. Smith himself issues a nondenial denial shortly after the season was over. What’s new about the BP report is that they would move Young specifically to make room for Span, as though, if they can’t move Young, Span becomes a fourth outfielder and Gomez leads off as the regular center fielder. That’s the part where it would be nice of BP quoted an unnamed source, even if it was the writer’s love child.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 1, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do see...

that being the case though.

I just can’t see Gomez sitting. They want to continue to develop him with PT, and should.

I think Span would indeed be a rotational OF, not Gomez.

by DJSkillz on Dec 1, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthal

…is actually a credible source, unlike Sid Hartman and Waters. Rosenthal is one of the best/credible writers when it comes to trade ‘rumors.’

by ahope on Dec 1, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree...

he’s among the very best in getting information. Maybe THE best going right now.

by DJSkillz on Dec 1, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

He’s the best for hot stove stuff anyway. I used to hate his analysis of actual teams and games and stuff, mostly because he typically picked the Twins to finish last until long after 2002.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 1, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CMath...

…I have a source that has a long history in baseball and is extremely close to many of the top Twins execs. He told me at dinner about two months ago that it is likely that Gomez will start the season in Rochester. I think the Twins are now believers that Span is for real and barring a bust in spring training, Span will be a regular at some outfield position and their lead off hitter.

by roger13 on Dec 1, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense

If they can’t move Young or Cuddyer anyway. But I put the odds of both Young and Cuddyer being on the spring training roster at less than 50%. They need infielders and one of the only places where they have depth is in the outfield. So I expect them to trade one of them, and Young seems the more likely one because his value seems higher to other teams than the Twins, whereas the opposite seems the case with Cuddyer.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 1, 2008 8:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ridiculous

No one in the organization who has anything to do with personnel would say that. By spring training, Gomez could be an entirely different player. He could have the best spring on the planet.

And anyone who makes personnel decisions in baseball also knows that there’s a great likelihood of injuries, which means you are never faced with such a decision.

Real baseball people don’t speculate that far ahead. Couple that with this — last season Gardenhire spoke of sitting Gomez and the strategy lasted about two games because Gardenhire concluded, and stated so, that the team plays with more intensity when Gomez is in the lineup — and we’ve got third-hand nonsense being uttered here.

by Johnny Safron on Dec 1, 2008 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously...

…Gomez could be a different player come spring…but so far there are no indications of that from his play in the DWL. If you had ever sat in on a discussion between this source and certain Senior Twins Execs who he has developed a close working relationship with over the past 35 years, you wouldn’t make the statement you did.

by roger13 on Dec 2, 2008 7:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure I would

And next spring, when Gomez makes the team, you’ll be proven wrong. Please make note of it.

As for sources – don’t care. I didn’t ask for your source. So why raise the point?

by Johnny Safron on Dec 2, 2008 7:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DWL

Roger, you know I trust your sources and judgment. But I don’t give his stats in the DWL much credence. First, it’s a very small sample. And second, he’s not playing every day, so he hasn’t had a chance to get into a groove. I think he’ s ready to take the next step in the majors, regardless of what the Twins think. But it can’t hurt him to spend a couple of months in AAA to start 2009 either.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 2, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CMath...

…To be honest, I have been surprised at how little Gomez is playing. While Casilla is playing nearly every game, Gomez is playing about 3 games per week.

I think everyone is missing the key point regarding where Gomez will be next spring and that is that the Twins are considering/discussing what is best for both the team and I expect in this instance the player….whether it would be best for him to get half a year or so of experience in AAA. Obviously, a lot can happen between now and then which will determine which players that are currently penciled in get changed to ink!

by roger13 on Dec 3, 2008 5:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

puzzling

I could see an extended stay at AAA last year, but he grew so much during the season that it seems to me he’s past the need to send him down. I don’t think a few weeks would hurt him, but it wouldn’t help all that much either. So sending him down is just a long-term salary issue at this point for me.

What puzzles me is how gung ho they were about him to start last year when his deficiencies were obvious. But now they’re luke warm on him and his deficiencies are much less clear.

If it was just about winning and we had to choose between Span and Gomez in center, I’d take Gomez. His hitting is below Span’s but his fielding more than makes up for it, imo. Span’s a good center fielder, but Gomez is simply the best in my book, which is a big reason why this collection of fly ball pitchers did so well last year, even with Delmon “Roller Ball” Young in left.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 3, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

More than makes up for?

More than makes up for is a strong statement. Span reaches base aproximately 9% more frequently than Gomez (.090 OBP points). Over 600 at bats, that is a difference of 54 outs. To make up for that difference, Gomez would have to make an out that Span every third game.
I agree that Gomez is a lot better, but I don’t think he gets to that many more balls than Span. Defense is good, but it is harder to make a difference on defense than it is on offense.

by snolls on Dec 3, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too strong

It is too strong, not because I don’t think Gomez makes an out that Span wouldn’t every third game. Cause I actually believe that. It’s too strong because I can’t prove it.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 3, 2008 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

proof

Not being able to prove it doesn’t make it too strong. I guess I’m just surprised, because I would be really surprised if he is making that many more outs. I know this math doesn’t work, but I figure 9 guys on the field, 27 outs, 6 games per week, means the average defensive player makes 18 outs per week. He would have to make more than 10% more than that.

Still, I certainly can’t prove you wrong either.

by snolls on Dec 3, 2008 11:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His postition

I don’t know what the average breakdown is, but I know more balls go up the middle than to the other parts of the field. So of the 27 outs, assuming 9 Ks, that leaves 18 outs for nine guys. Of those short, second and center get something like half. So let’s say center gets three potential outs a game.

Now, there’s an oversimplification in your numbers. Span and Gomez might make the same number of outs, but Gomez might save an extra hit a game. Or more specifically, an extra base, because he’’ll keep that guy from stretching a single into a double. If one out of every three of those bases results in runs on average, and he saves one base a game, he saves one run every three games. I don’t think that’s a stretch. He has the best range in the game.

I personally saw him track down 10 balls last year that made me gasp and exclaim, “How in the world did he get to that ball?” Span’s good, but he’s not near Gomez in range.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 3, 2008 11:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

Gomez’ defense is better than Span, but I have the difference offensively at about 35 runs. That’s a heckuva lot. Maybe the difference between Gomez and Young is closer to that, but not for Span, who’s a pretty good defender himself.

Of course, this is only considering 2008 stats. One might expect Gomez to improve a bit and Span to decline a bit at the plate, but not enough to make up for a very large difference IMO.

by Adam Peterson on Dec 4, 2008 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really

If the center fielder makes three outs, he also touches the ball five times a game on average, assuming 10 hits a game. I don’t think it’s a stretch that Gomez would save a base runner a game in those five touches, which averages out to a run every three games, or at least 40 runs a year.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 4, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

touches to base runners

I just dont see it.
Let’s say Gomez gets five touches per game. Lets say that means that he has 5 chances to make a play per game, and he converts it to three outs. Saving one base runner per game would mean that Span only converts 2 of those same five chances. In other words, Span is two thirds as good a defender as Gomez. That seems highly unlikely.

by snolls on Dec 5, 2008 8:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Just to clarify, I’m talking about keeping runners from advancing on hits as well as converting chances into outs. Perhaps it’s a stretch. I just saw his gap coverage as much better than Span’s. It’s kind of tough to tell because Span didn’t play center much last year and he had good range in right. But part of that was because he was able to play closer to the line with Gomez’s range. When Hunter was at his peak, it made Jones and Stewart look all that much better on line coverage because they didn’t need to cover the gaps. That’s what Gomez brought to the table last year. I Don’t think the outfield as a whole is as efficient with Span in center as Gomez.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 5, 2008 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

a step or two. I know Gomez is the fastest baseball player, however, I don’t think based on last years batting totals that the difference in defense will offset the difference in offense. I believe that can change to Gomez’s advantage. But he needs to learn more bat control. That’s a fact. I am not necessarilly for or against Gomez in AAA or trading Young or Cuddyer, but in the discussion of OF options for next year, Gomez starting in AAA to work on hitting is a valid one.

by doofus on Dec 5, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RF and ZR and OPS+

Gomez RF 3.150 ZR 0.932 79 OPS+
Span RF 2.700 ZR 0.892 125 OPS+

So you’re probably right. It’s tough to squeeze enough outs out of defense to offset 46 points of OPS+.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 5, 2008 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

Doofus – I think you hit the nail on the head. The key is that management needs to take that option seriously. In all of their free agent and trade considerations, and during spring training, the need to remember that a) Gomez is a viable option in CF, and b) there may be some value in keeping him in AAA this year. As long as this isn’t some idealogical decision, where Gardy has said “I like his defense”, or “demoting him will kill his confidence”, then management should be able to come to a reasonable, defendable conclusion.

That means that if no one is traded, it should be MORE likely that Gomez goes to AAA, and that if a good trade option appears, that they make the trade knowing Gomez can start in the MLB without being a tremendous liability.

by snolls on Dec 6, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Ridiculous"?

How is that ridiculous? Do you really think that baseball teams wait until spring training to assess their players? In spring training, players only get limited exposure (small sample size), are still getting into shape, and are often going against minor league talent.

By your logic and 2008 spring training statistics, Span should have made the team out of spring training (.282/.404/.385), Lamb should have been expected to be a star (.372/.449/.488), and John Knot (.314/.362/.600) and Randy Ruiz (.393/.433/.679) both would have made the team.

In reality, spring training only matters for the players on the bubble. Most players already have their role defined before Feb 1.

by snolls on Dec 2, 2008 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Recent history

Suggests that the Twins don’t take spring performances very seriously, at least not for starters. Case in point: Bartlett had a great spring and Castro only played in five games in the spring due to the WBC. Yet Castro won the job based largely on pre-spring decisions. If that’s indicative of the Twins way of doing things, Gomez is going down regardless of what he does, barring a Young or Cuddyer trade.

It’s kinda funny really that the Twins even bother to make such a big deal out of the competitions for jobs in spring training. They do it to motivate guys who are slated for AAA as much as the guys who are slated to come north with the team. But it’s mostly a ruse.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 2, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Snolls, you've done a shift

We’re talking about assessing Carlos Gomez, yet you have shifted the argument to include “their players.” Why would you do that? That’s not the topic here. The topic is a fourth-hand conversation that allegedly took place among “Senior Twins execs,” whomever the hell they are. I’d like some names.

Beyond that, explain to all of us exactly why a baseball team that faces plenty of off-season decisions would waste it’s time discussing putting a player who played all season in the big leagues, a player whom the manager loves, in the minors in advance of spring training.

So, Lucy, you gots some ‘splainin’ to do. Answer the above. And stay on topic.

by Johnny Safron on Dec 2, 2008 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The key to...

…having the type of relationships that get accurate information is that they shall never be revealed. Now you can certainly choose to not believe that they exist, in which case you are calling either me or my source a liar. Do as you choose, however, you will note that over the past X years I very seldom make statements where I contribute them to a source. CMath knows one of my sources…which this was not. SETH knows another source and is still kicking himself for not going with my news that Liriano had injured his elbow…about a week to 10 days before any of the local media had it.

Do as you choose, however, my source is solid and no one will get his name.

by roger13 on Dec 2, 2008 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the Twins do not trade Young or Cuddyer...

…I predict that Gomez will have a similar year to what Bartlett did in 2006. He’ll go down to Rochester and tear it up for six weeks until the Twins can’t keep him down there anymore. This will buy them another year of control and allow him to work on a few of his rough edges.

But please, let’s not talk about soft skills like “leadership” this time around, OK Gardy? The thought of Gomez leading with his mouth makes me smile:

“I like, run to the baw is and I cetch it, and den den den den den I thow it to the cut-off guy.”

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 2, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

late post here....

I can see Gomez going to AAA to start the season. There are too many upsides to this. 1. keep control of him an extra season, 2. save cash, 3. he has some work to do (he has a terrible bat), 4. Span is close enough defensively.

Jason Pridie could be the 5th OF to start the season. He deserves that chance.

I personally don’t know Roger…. But he writes in detail. Better than a lot of professional columnists.He has no incentive to B.S anyone as his reputation is strong amongst our community already, based on his knoledge of the minors…If he says it, I believe him.

by doofus on Dec 2, 2008 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"terrible bat"

I would not say Gomez has a “terrible bat”. This is his line in 190 PAs as a number 9 hitter last year: .286 /.328 /.400 /.728. That’s not great, but it’s not terrible. It’s pretty good for a number nine hitter.

Gardy did him a great disservice when he insisted that Gomez would be the everyday lead-off hitter given all his known hitting issues. Not many 22 year olds with 125 at bats in the majors can handle the pressure of hitting lead-off. And I don’t know of a single hitter who succeeded in the majors as a lead-off hitter without ever hitting lead-off in his entire career (Molitor maybe). Gomez showed that he couldn’t handle the pressure. But he was a competent number nine hitter. And he would certainly be good enough for that role in 2009.

It just wouldn’t hurt him to spend the first six to eight weeks in AAA. And, all things considered, it would help the organization, especially in 2010 and beyond, when this very talented player is arbitration eligible.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 2, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

correct

Terrible may have been a bit harsh. He did have a .728 OPS in the nine hole. but that is not near as good as the others and his k /bb ratio didn’t improve all that much it was around 5/1 except April, and he only had 2 months above a .600 ops. I am not convinced he has turned a corner yet and will be wildly inconsistant next year.

by doofus on Dec 2, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Twins fans...

…have sadly become accustomed to having guys like Jason Tyner as an extra outfielder. That’s not how the big kids do it.

Oh: Gomez had his best OPS+ of the season in September, while Span was at his worst, worn down, wielding a “heavy bat” and striking out at an unprecedented clip.

Time for a reality check from both the Gomez detractors and the Span supporters.

by Johnny Safron on Dec 2, 2008 11:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My 'splaining

Which part was off topic? You must mean that responding to your comment: “By spring training, Gomez could be an entirely different player. He could have the best spring on the planet”. I think I responded very clearly to that line of discussion.
Your questions:
1. “Why would you do that? That’s not the topic here”.

Yes it is. Roger suggested The Twins thought there was a good chance that Gomez would start the year at AAA. You said that no-one in baseball would say something like that, because he may have a great spring, and thus earn a spot on the team. I responded by saying that many decisions are made before spring break, and players only have limited ability to affect those placement decisions based on their play during spring break.

2. “Explain to all of us exactly why a baseball team that faces plenty of off-season decisions would waste it’s time discussing putting a player who played all season in the big leagues, a player whom the manager loves, in the minors in advance of spring training”.

First, it isn’t all that clear to me that Gardy loves Loose Cannon 1, but I will assume that he does, in order to “answer the above. And stay on topic”. Let’s say you had a future superstar. The next Rickey Hendersen. We will also assume that he had played two years of major league baseball and had put up a career MLB line of .254/.295/.350/.645. Managers expect him to develop into a career .279/.401/.419/.820.
They expect that it will take 3 more years to get there. They believe he will develop at the same speed at AAA or at the major leagues. The next five years of statistics will be:
Year 1: .260/.330/.375/.705
Year 2: .270/.365/.400/.765
Year 3: .279/.401/.419/.820
Year 4: .279/.401/.419/.820
Year 5: .279/.401/.419/.820

They further expect his next 4 years of major league service time (which they control) to cost:
Year 1: $400k
Year 2: $1.6m
Year 3: $3m
Year 4: $6m
Total: $11m

In this case, the reason “a baseball team that”….“would waste it’s time”….." in the minors"….., is that they would prefer to pay $11m for the statistics from years 2-5, than they would for the statistics from years 1-4. They feel that once his service time is used up, his salary will reflect his actual value, and there will be no benefit to having him over a replacement player. Further, they feel that if they trade him in year 5 (when they still have control of him only if he spends another year in the minors), they will get better prospects than if they have to trade him in year 4.
—————————————
So, right or wrong, that is my explanation as to why a team would do it. I thiink that I have managed to cover every topic “above” in your post. Please let me know if I missed something.

If you think that, given the situation I’ve described above, putting a player in the minors wouldn’t be the best decision, please explain why. If you think that there are important differences between the Gomez situation and the one I’ve described that warrant a different decision, then please explain them, and the rationale for making that decision. If you want to call me names, and generally devolve the level of analysis and banter on this site, then go eat a dick.

by snolls on Dec 3, 2008 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You must be a "real baseball" person...

In order to know what and how “real baseball people” think. No point in arguing with this guy. Actually, I will argue with something: Your insistence on being a snarky contrarian, which does little to further discussion, and your reliance on an under-cutting tone to get your point across. Simply disagree and move on – I don’t know you personally (or anyone here for that matter) but I find it hard to believe that you know so much more than the rest of us. And it’s “ridiculous” for you to challenge what another poster claimed came from a reliable source.

I like how it changed from “third-hand nonsense” in this post to “fourth-hand nonsense” in the one below. Are you the fourth hand of nonsense?

by Chuck Tweedy on Dec 2, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for...

furthering the discussion.

by Johnny Safron on Dec 2, 2008 7:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Span

As has been said before in the thread, Span is quite clearly a starter for the team after what he did last year. Gardenhire has said as much. There’s really no choice anymore.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Dec 1, 2008 8:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gomez AAA?

I can’t believe some people actually think Gomez will start the year in AAA. He played the entire year in the majors last year, and frankly I think he did a pretty good job. Of course he had some struggles, but he did mature over the course of the season. He has to much talent and a full year of major league experience. The only way he plays AAA next year is if he totally just falls on his face the first couple months of the season and develops some attitude problem with the club or something like that. You don’t send down a kid the year after you play him all season, in which he showed flashes of dominance. He had games where he totally changed the game. Both offense and defense. Sending him down now would only create problems. Personally I would be rather pissed off.

by .mnqwerd on Dec 3, 2008 4:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gardenhire

Gardenhire has been quoted today as preferring a starting outfield of Span, Gomez, and Cuddyer. It seems odd to be showing up in that newspaper, but it appears to be a pretty clear statement. People can argue about the veracity of sources and what the higher-up execs are secretly planning, but here’s I think evidence of one concerned party’s recorded preference.
Of course, Gardenhire doesn’t make the personnel decisions, so it will be interesting to see if there really is a difference of opinion between him and the front office. But I’d have to say that looking at the public evidence so far this offseason, the odd man out of the outfield going into 2009 in the minds of the whole organization isn’t Carlos Gomez, it’s Delmon Young.

by DK on Dec 3, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cuddyer

Personally I feel the odd man out should be Cuddyer. I would take Young’s bat over Cuddyer easily. Cuddy always seems to get a free pass from most fans, but he really hasn’t done much besides a decent to good 2006.

by .mnqwerd on Dec 3, 2008 8:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not me....

I think Cuddyer and Young are likely to be very similar players over the next 2-3 years, and Cuddyer is also a great clubhouse guy and spokesperson for the team.

Plus, Young has a lot more value on the open market right now than Cuddyer; that’s why you deal Young.

by DJSkillz on Dec 4, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs